Compare towns
Benson vs Danby vs Brookfield vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Danby has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Benson | Danby | Brookfield | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784Lowest |
1,133 |
1,486Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Danby and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Brookfield and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.